Knitted fabric



C. S, 1938. R ANDERSON 2,133,840

KNITTED FABRIC Filed NOV. 16, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l frzyefzL/or CARROLL /QANDEEJON ATTORNEYS Oct. 18, 1938. R. ,fxunizrasoly f 2,133,840

KNITTED FABRIC Filed Nov.' 16, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INvENror-r CARROLL R. ANDERsoN SYM ATTOR NE YE Patented -Oct 18, 1938 UNITED STATES KNTTTED FABRIC Carroll 'R. Anderson, Minneapolis, Minn.,l assignor, by mesne assignments, to Munsingwear Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Application November 16, 1936, Serial No. 111,106

9 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in knitted fabrics. and more \particularly to `a two-way stretchable knitted fabric adapted for use inall types of foundation garments, such as corsets, girdles, and variousother forms of knitted garments which are worn next to the body, whereby the fabric contacts directly with the skin. A

Foundation, or form-shaping garments, are usually knitted of elastic and non-elastic yarns, with suicient tension applied to the elastic yarn, when feeding it to the knitting machine needles, to cause the knitted fabric, as it discharges from the knitting machine, to contract to a considerable degree, which is necessary in order to give to the resultant fabric, the required stretchability essential in garments of the form-shaping and fitting type, of the class herein referred to. Such tensioning of the yarn causes the wales of the fabric to be drawn into cose contact with one another, and, as a result, gives the fabric a rather hard, firm nish, which, when pressed firmly` against the surface of the skin by the inherent tension in the fabric, may be more or less uncomfortable to the wearer.

, It is now common practice to knit foundation garments, girdles, and various other types of garments, of elastic yarn, such as commonly known to the trade as Lastex, or cut rubber yarn,

` when fed to the knitting machine needles, the

outer surfaces of the fabric, as hereinbefore stated, acquires a more or less hard finish which, in close fitting garments, is sometimes undesirable, in

that it often tends to form impressions or small grooves and ridges in the skin, simulating the rows of stitches and wales of the fabric, because of the pressure exerted against the body by the inherent tension in the fabric. The hard surface of the fabric may also chafe the surface of the skin of some individuals, if the garment is permitted to relatively move upon the body when worn.

It is therefore desirable that knitted fabrics to An object of the present invention, therefore, f

is to provide a knitted fabric comprising altervnately arranged elastic and non-elastic yarns having inter-knitted therewith, a fine yarn or thread having relatively long free loops `formed therein and disposed at 'ne side of the fabric, which loops cooperate to provide a soft, hairylikenap, or velvety finish which, when fitted Vagainst the body, will be extremely`comfortable, and cannot chafe, or otherwise mark or injure the surface of the skin of the wearer. i

A further object is to provide a terry cloth fabric comprising a combination of elastic and nonelastic yarns or threads which are so tensioned, during the knitting of the fabric, that the resultant fabric isrendered stretchable both horizontally and vertically, and wherein` the free terry loops formed on the one side of the fabric are of sumcie'nt length to permit the garment to be stretched over the body without destroying the soft, hairy-like nap, or velvety finish, provided lon the inner surface of the fabric by the terry loops.

Other objects of the invention reside in the provision of a two-way stretch, plain knitted fabric of the terry type. composed of elastic and non-elastic yarns, which fabric is particularly well adapted for use in the construction of foundation and otherform-shaping garments; in the provision of a fabric of the character disclosed, having a soft, hairy-like nap on one side which, when fitted against the body, permits greater absorption of perspiration than does ordinary two-way stretch fabricsnow commonly used in the construction of foundation and similar garments; and inthe provision of such a fabric which may be knitted on conventional knitting machines without materially altering the construction thereof.

Other objects of the vinvention will appear from the following description and accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is tobe understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a greatly enlarged view showing one side of thev fabric and the yarns under tension as when knitting the fabric, whereby the wales are separated from one another;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the opposite side of the fabric with the relatively long terry loops formed therein;

Figure 3 is a view on a relatively smaller scale, showing the soft, velvety nap provided on one side of the nished fabric by the relatively long terry loops;

Figure 4 is a view diagrammatically illustrating a portion of a knitting machine and showing the manner of forming the terry loops which provide the soft nish on one side of the fabric;

Figure 5 is a view diagrammatically illustrating the manner of,` feeding to the knitting machine needles, the yarn which forms the terry loops;

Figure 6 is an enlarged view similar to Figure 2, showing the terry loops sheared at their free ends.; and

Figure '1 is a view similar to Figure 5, showing the soft-hairy-like nap provided by shearing the ends of the loops, asshown in Figure 6.

To afford a clearer explanation of the invention, there is illustrated in Figure 4, a portion of a conventional knitting machine comprising a cylinder 2, having the usual vertically disposed knitting needles 3 mounted therein, which are operated vertically in the usual manner by suitable cams, not shown in the drawings. The usual dial plate 4 is shown mounted above the cylinder 2, and carries the dial blanks 5,- mounted for radial movement by suitable cams 5, diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 4. The cams Ii are removably mounted in a suitable cam ring 'I which, in turn, is secured to a fixed support, generally indicated by the numeral 8. The cylinder and dial rotate synchronously, as is well known in machines of this general type.

An important feature of the present invention residesin -the construction of a knitted fabric comprising a plurality of `courses of elastic and non-elastic yarns 9 and II, respectively, having inter-knitted therewith, another yarn or thread I2, preferably of relatively smaller diameter which, during the knitting operation, is formed with relatively long loops Il on one sideof the fabric andV with anchoring loops between the long loops knit with loops of certain of the courses, as best shown in Figures 1 and 2. These relatively long loops, which will hereinafter be referred to as terry loops, cooperate to provide a soft, hairylike, and velvety finish for one side ofthe fabric,

. as clearly shown at Il in Figure 3.

`The particular method of inter-knitting the yarns'is clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 2,

` numeral I5, are shown spaced apart horizontally in substantially-the position in which they are supported on the knitting machine cylinder. 'I 'he novel fabric herein disclosed is particularly wellsuited for foundation garments, girdles,l and var-` to the. cylinder needles 3 simultaneously, and

each needle l engage both threads and pull elastic yarn I I.

them downwardly through the loops I6 of the preceding row of stitches. The Lastex yarn 9, as best shown in Figure 4, is fed to the cylinder needles 3 at an elevation below. the dial blanks 5, and the terry thread or yarn I2 is fed to the cylinder needles at an elevation above the dial blanks, and is pulled downwardly between said blanks by the cylinder needles 3, as best illus- .trated in Figure 5, thereby to provide therelatively long terry loops I3, shown in Figures 1 and 2. Suitable guides I8 and I9. diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 5. are provided to guide the yarns 9 and I2, respectively, to the knitting machine needles, as hereinbefore described. 'Ihe length of the loops I3 may be varied to obtain the desired effect, by'vertically adjusting the dial plate and the dial blanks 5 with respect to the cylinder'needles 3, as is well known in machines of this general character.

Spaced from the guides I8 and I9 in the direction of travel `of the cylinder, is located a third guide, not shown, which feeds the non-elastic or rayon yarn to the cylinder needles 3 in the usual manner. 'I'his operation is well-known' to the trade, and it is therefore thought unnecessary to herein show the samein detail.

The Lastex and rayon yarns 9 and II are alternately arranged in the fabric, as shown in Figures 1I and 2, so that alternate courses of stitches will be knitted with elastic yarn, while the intervening courses will be knitted with rayon or non-elastic yarn.

In the operation of knitting the fabric,l suiiicient tensionis applied to the yarns, particularly the Lastex, to cause/l the resultant fabric, when discharging from the' knitting machine cylinder, to contract to the extent that the wales I5 and terry loops I3 are drawn close together, as best shown in Figure 3, and whereby the fabric is rendered stretchable both horizontally and vertically, the greatest degree of stretch, however, beinglengthwise of the row of stitches, or circumferentially ofthe garment.

The terry yarn or thread I2 is preferably interknitted in `the fabric in the courses of the Lastex yarn 9, although, if desired, it may be inter-knitted together with the courses of non- In actual practice', however, I have.found thatl when the terry yarn is knitted into the fabric together with the Lastex, a relatively ne fuzz or nap is also provided on the outer surface of the fabric,'which tends to improve the appearance of'the fabric and gives it a relatively softer finish. The terry loops I 3 on Athe opposite side of the fabric, because of their length 'and because of being drawn into close contact with one another, vas shown in Figure 3,l provide a soft nap or velvety-like finish on the opposite or inner side of the fabric, which compl tely covers said surface and. providesa very sof and comfortable surface to be fitted against the body of the wearer. The terry loops I3 are made sufficiently long to permit free stretching of the fabric, when fitting it onto the body, and whereby thesoft,.velvety finish provided thereby is not destroyed, even when the fabric is yplaced under considerable tension on the body.

When the terry yarn is knitted in to the fabric together with the non-elastic rayon yarn II, the one'side of the fabric will have a relatively harder finish, while the opposite side thereof will have a very soft, velvety nish because of the pro-v relation, and the terry yarn or thread I2 interknitted in the fabric together with the Lastex.

- It is to be understood, however, that if desired,

a terry yarn may be knitted into the fabric in each course of stitches or together with both the Lastex and rayon yarns 9 :and II, respectively, Without departing fromrthe scope of the invention. When thus knitting a terry yarn into loops I3 will be ample for all'practical purposesv and, at the same time, 'a saving inmaterial is effected.

In Figures 6 and '7, there is shown a fabric in which the terry loops I3 are sheared at their outer or free ends, as shown at 2l in Figure 6. When the loops I3 are thus sheared, a plurality of free yarn ends 22 are provided in lieu of the small loops shown at I4 in Figure 3. The small strands or fibers of the terry yarn I2 may 'then readily separate or fray out at the terminals of the yarn ends 2l, as clearly illustrated in Figure 7, wherebya very soft, hairy-like nap is provided, which completely covers the surface of the fabric and provides a nish which offers the utmost in comfort, even to the most delicate skin.

As previously stated, the novel fabric herein disclosed has been found very well adapted for foundation garments, girdles and the like, in that it provides a garment which is very comfortable and one which may readily be pulled onto and off the body with very little effort. 'I'his results because of the soft, hairy-like nap, or velvety finish, provided on the inner surface of the fabric, which reduces frictional contact with the body, by completely concealing the small grooves and ridges present between adjacent courses of stitches and between adjacent wales of the fabric of the garment. The nap I4 formed on the inside of the fabric by the terry loops also prevents the fabric from chalng the body, when the garment relatively moves thereon,'which is more or` less common in garments constructed of a stretchable fabric whose inner surface has a relatively hard finish.

In the foregoing, I have described the fabric as being knitted in alternately arranged elastic and non-elastic yarns, having a relatively finer yarn or thread inter-knitted therewith to provide the terry loops. In some instances, it might be found desirable to knit the fabric of Lastex or elastic yarn only, with which av relatively finer yarn or thread of a suitable material such, for example, as rayon, is interknitted to provide the soft, velvety nap required on one side of the fabric. From actual experience, however, I have found that a fabric knitted of a combination of elastic and non-elastic yarns, as herein disclosed,

provides a very practical .and satisfactory garfree of the body loops of the elastic and inelastic threads and projecting from the face of the fabric so as to provide a soft, hairy-like nap or velvety nish.

2. A knitted fabric including an elastic body e thread and an inelastic body thread interknit to form separate but interconnected elastic and inelastic knitted body loops, and auxiliary threads having anchoring loops interknlt with certain of the body loops, and having terry loops intervening between said anchoring loops formed free of the body loops of. the elastic and inelastic threads and projecting from the face of the fabric so-as to provide a soft, hairy-like nap or velvety finish.

3. A knitted fabric comprising courses containing knit loops of elastic thread and separate alternate courses of inelastic thread interknlt with the courses of elastic thread, and auxiliary threads at alternate only of said courses having enchoring loops interknit with the loops thereof, and having terry loops intervening between said anchoring loops projecting from the face of the taining knit loops of elastic thread and separate courses of inelastic thread interknit with said elastic courses, and auxiliary threads in only the courses containing the elastic thread having anchoring loops knit with the loops of the elastic thread and spaced from each other by the courses of inelastic thread, and having terry loops intervening between said anchoring loops and 'projecting from the face of the fabric so as to provide a soft, hairy-like nap or velvety finish.

5. A two-Way stretch fabric comprising successiveY interknit courses of body loops, at least certain of said courses containing knit loops of elastic thread so as to render the fabric stretchable in two directions, and auxiliary threads at only spaced courses of the fabric having anchoring loops interknit with body loops of said courses, and having terry loops intervening between said anchoring loopsand projecting from the face of the fabric, the terry loops of the auxiliary thread in one course being free of. direct knitted connection with the terry loops of the auxiliary thread in another course.

6. A two-way stretch fabric comprising successive interknit courses of body loops, at least certalnof said courses containing knit loops of elastic thread so as to render the fabric stretchable in two directions, and auxiliary threads at only spaced courses of the-fabric having anchoring loops interknit with body loops of 'said spaced courses, and having terry loops intervening between the anchoring loops, said terry loops being longer than the anchoring loops and projecting from the face of the fabric so as to provide a soft, hairy-like nap or velvety finish.

7. A two-way'stretch fabric comprising sucoessive interknit courses of body loops at least certain of said courses/containing knit 'loops of elastic threads so as to render the fabric stretchable in two directions, and auxiliary threads at "only spaced courses knit with the body loops of said courses, ,and having long terry loops intervening between said anchoring loops and projecting waleswise at the face ofthe fabric to overlie the intervening courses of the fabric from 'I cessive interknit courses of body loops, at least 9. A'knitted -fabric including an elastic body thread and an inelastic body thread interknit to form separate but interconnected elastic and inelastic body loops, and auxiliary threads of smaller diameter than the elastic threads having anchoring loops knitted with certain only of the body loops, and having terry loops of greater length than the anchoring loops projecting from the face of the fabric and overlying bodyloops of the fabric other than those with which the '10 anchoring loops are knit.

CARROLL R. ANDERSON. 

